Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from human activities reached a record high 53.2bn t/CO2 equivalent (CO2e) in 2024 — up by 1.3pc on the year — according to a report from the European Commission's emissions database for global atmospheric research.
This figure does not include GHG emissions from land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF). The LULUCF sector can act both as a source of GHG emissions, but also as a "sink" — absorbing emissions in some circumstances. The LULUCF sector resulted in a source of 900mn t/CO2e in 2024, due to wildfires, the report estimated.
The eight highest-emitting economies in 2024 were China, the US, India, the EU, Russia, Indonesia, Brazil and Japan, the report found. These jurisdictions collectively contributed to 66.2pc of global GHG emissions.
China contributed 15.5bn t/CO2e, or 29.2pc of global GHG emissions in 2024, while the US contributed 5.9bn t/CO2e, or 11.1pc, EU data show. India contributed 4.4bn t/CO2e and the EU 3.2bn t/CO2e — 8.2pc and 5.9pc of GHGs in 2024, respectively.
Just the EU and Japan's emissions fell on the year, while all others either held steady or increased. But "all major emitters reduced their emission intensity in terms of GHG emissions per unit of GDP", the report noted.
The Paris climate agreement requires signatory countries and jurisdictions to submit national climate plans, known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs), every five years. The next round, setting out nations' plans to reduce emissions and address climate change, should cover a time period up to 2035. The incoming president of this year's UN Cop 30 climate conference, Brazilian diplomat Andre Correa do Lago, has urged countries to submit NDCs by the end of this month.
The EU and China have committed to demonstrate climate "leadership", and NDCs from both economies are expected ahead of Cop 30.
The EU aims to reduce GHG emissions by "at least" 55pc by 2030, from 1990 levels, and reach net zero emissions by 2050. The European Commission has proposed a 2040 target of 90pc GHG cuts, and has said that it will derive the bloc's 2035 goal from a 2040 target, once the latter is agreed.
